Rather than join
the NBA, Nevada forward Nick Fazekas rolled the dice and returned to Reno for
his senior year. Now the Wolf Pack is off to its best start in 55 years and
laughing all the way, thanks to its star's impeccable timing

Faces in the Crowd

Kira Sharp WEST JORDAN, UTAH > Soccer Sharp, a senior forward at Metropolitan State College of Denver, kicked the winning goal in overtime to beat Grand Valley State 1--0 and give the Roadrunners the NCAA Division II national championship. She also scored the game-winning overtime goal in the semifinals and was named the Final Four Outstanding Offensive Player.

Demarius Johnson DOUGLASVILLE, GA. > Football Demarius, a junior tailback on the eight-man team at Harvester Christian Academy, led the 13--0 Hawks to the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I championship, rushing for 678 yards and scoring nine touchdowns in two playoff games. He was named MVP of the state and NACA championships.

Johannah Leedham ELLESMERE PORT, ENGLAND > Basketball Leedham, a freshman guard at Franklin Pierce, in Rindge, N.H., set school single-game records for free throws (19) and steals (11) while leading the Ravens to three recent victories. She was named Northeast-10 Conference freshman of the week for the sixth straight time and was the league's player of the week for the fourth time.

Chris Mazdzer SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. > Luge Mazdzer, 18, a member of the USA junior national team, won the gold medal in the men's junior singles luge competition at a World Cup race in Oberhof, Germany. The reigning U.S. national junior singles champion, he has also won silver and bronze medals in junior singles and doubles races this season.

Sean Barnette ROCK HILL, S.C. > Basketball Barnette, a junior forward-guard at Wingate (N.C.), scored his 1,000th career point in a win over Anderson and was named South Atlantic Conference men's basketball player of the week. He was also the MVP of the Ortho Carolina Classic, in which he led the Bulldogs to two victories and the tournament title.

Bryn and Molly Stevens HUMMELSTOWN, PA. > Field Hockey Sisters Bryn (left) and Molly, senior forwards at Lower Dauphin High and Ursinus, respectively, each helped her team win a title. Bryn's Falcons won the PIAA state Class AAA title, and Molly's Bears won the NCAA Division III national championship on the same day.

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Before he became the premier postseason performer of his generation, the Patriots icon was a middling college quarterback who invited skepticism, even scorn, from fans and his coaches. That was all—and that was everything